Preparing for Homoeopathic Pharmacy viva voce can feel overwhelming because of the vast syllabus. From definitions and pharmacopoeia to alcohol varieties, vehicles, instruments, and legal provisions everything is important. This guide compiles essential viva questions with crisp answers for quick revision.
Basic Definitions
Define Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the art of collecting, preparing, preserving, compounding, combining and dispensing medicines according to a physician’s prescription.
Pharmacy is the art of collecting, preparing, preserving, compounding, combining and dispensing medicines according to a physician’s prescription.
Define Drug
A drug is a substance capable of affecting the human or animal organism in health or disease.
A drug is a substance capable of affecting the human or animal organism in health or disease.
Define Medicine
When a drug is proved on healthy human beings and its symptoms are known, it is called a medicine.
When a drug is proved on healthy human beings and its symptoms are known, it is called a medicine.
Define Remedy
An indicated medicine administered on the basis of symptom similarity is called a remedy.
An indicated medicine administered on the basis of symptom similarity is called a remedy.
Branches of Pharmacology
- Pharmacology – Study of drug action on living systems
- Pharmacodynamics – Study of dynamic action of drugs
- Pharmacognosy – Study of origin and identification of natural drugs
- Pharmaconomy – Route of administration
- Pharmacopraxy – Art of converting crude drugs into medicines
- Pharmacopolaxy – Repetition of doses
Pharmacopoeia
Define Pharmacopoeia
A standard authoritative book published by a government authority containing rules for preparation, preservation and standardization of drugs.
A standard authoritative book published by a government authority containing rules for preparation, preservation and standardization of drugs.
First Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia
German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia (1825), published by Dr. Carl W. Caspari.
First Official Indian Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (1971), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Mother Tincture & Pharmaceutical Processes
- Mother Tincture – Solution prepared from plant or animal substances using alcohol.
- Menstrum – Liquid capable of dissolving active principles.
- Maceration – Extraction for 2–4 weeks at room temperature.
- Percolation – Continuous extraction using percolator.
Potentization
- Decimal (1:10) – Dr. Constantine Hering
- Centesimal (1:100) – Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
- 50 Millesimal – Introduced by Hahnemann
Succussion – Forceful shaking during potentization.
Trituration – Grinding insoluble substances with sugar of milk.
Trituration – Grinding insoluble substances with sugar of milk.
Alcohol in Homoeopathic Pharmacy
- Absolute Alcohol – 99.5%
- Strong Alcohol – 95%
- Dispensing Alcohol – 91.4%
- Dilute Alcohol – 60%
- Proof Spirit – 57.1%
Vehicles
Solid Vehicles
- Sugar of milk
- Globules
- Pellets
- Tablets
Liquid Vehicles
- Alcohol
- Distilled water
- Glycerin
- Oils
Semi-solid Vehicles
- Vaseline
- Lanolin
- Beeswax
- Paraffin
Pharmaceutical Instruments
- Mortar and pestle
- Percolator
- Hydrometer
- Alcoholmeter
- Desiccator
- Water bath
- Crucible
- Hot air oven
Chemical balance is most commonly used for drug preparation.
Drugs & Cosmetics Acts
- Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940
- Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945
- Drugs and Magic Remedies Act 1954
- Medicinal and Toiletry Preparation Act 1955